East of the River Magazine – January 2026

JANUARY 2026

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE J ANUARY 2026

Winter Education Supplement (See Center Fold)

N E X T I S S U E : F E B U R A RY 7

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neighborhood news 12

Going Wild on the Anacostia River: Animal Life is Thriving in Communities East of DC by Matthew McClure

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ANC 6/8F Report: Friends of Diamond Teague Park Planned by Elizabeth O’Gorek

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ANC 7D Report: Changes to High School Graduation Requirements Proposed

by Sarah Payne

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Bulletin Board

by Kathleen Donner

IN EVERY ISSUE

east washington life 22

Theater Night: A Curated Review of Theater in the DMV

by Matthew McClure

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The Man from Anacostia: Make A Resolution to Rank Your Vote by Philip Pannell

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Changing Hands

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What’s on Washington The Crossword The Classifieds

on the cover: Anacostia River Outdoor Volunteer Adventure Trail Illustration.

Illustrated by Maria Toro Quijano. @mariatoroquijano Courtesy: Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA).

See more on page 20.

compiled by Don Denton

Capital Community News, Inc. Publisher of:

Est.

1976

Capital Community News, Inc. PO Box 15477, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 www.capitalcommunitynews.com www.hillrag.com

MIDCITY

F A G O N

GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL

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EDUCATION

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com Copyright © 2026 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com.

E ast of the R iver M agazine J anuary 2026

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WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art at the NGA

Through March 1, at the National Gallery of Art East Building, find ochre paintings made on bark, maps of the Central and Western deserts (so-called “dot paintings”), groundbreaking works in neon, video, and photography, and more. And meet artists who maintain and reinvigorate Ancestral traditions—revealing the rich, living history of creativity behind the world’s longest continuous culture. Australian Indigenous art is a visual thread connecting more than 250 nations across 65,000 years. Explore its breadth and brilliance through nearly 200 works from the late 1800s to today. nga.gov.

Wingu Tingima Minyma Tjuta (Seven Sisters), 2006 synthetic polymer paint on canvas overall: 138 x 205 cm (54 5/16 x 80 11/16 in.) National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Photo: Christian Markel/NGV

“The Music of Oz: Treasures from The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz and Wicked” at the LOC

“The Music of Oz: Treasures from The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz and Wicked” is a special display in the Thomas Jefferson Building that marks the 125th anniversary of L. Frank Baum’s novel “The Wizard of Oz.” It features music and lyric manuscripts, costume designs and photographs from films and musicals inspired by the book, including “The Wizard of Oz” (1939), “The Wiz” (1978) and “Wicked” (2003). Highlights include a reproduction of the only lyric sketch for “Over the Rainbow” known to exist. “The Music of Oz” is on view through Jan. 31. loc.gov.

“Detroit Gospel Legends” at MGM National Harbor

On Saturday, Jan. 24, 8 p.m., Detroit Gospel Live brings the soul-stirring sounds of the Motor City to The Theater at MGM National Harbor, 101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill, MD. Experience the legendary Fred Hammond, the iconic Clark Sisters, dynamic performer Deitrick Haddon, worship leader Byron Cage, soulful vocalist Carvin Winans, and powerhouse Lisa Page-Brooks all on one stage. From timeless classics to modern praise, this celebration of Detroit gospel will lift your spirit and move your soul.

Tickets are $55 to $263. mgmnationalharbor.mgmresorts.com.

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“La Casa de Bernarda Alba” at GALA

In García Lorca’s modern classic, an authoritarian mother exercises her ruthless power over her family, until the desire for freedom challenges and confronts her authority. A revealing look at the hypocrisy and deception that corrupt human relationships. La Casa de Bernarda Alba (in Spanish with English surtitles) in at GALA Theater, 3333 14th St. NW, from Feb. 5 to March 1. Tickets are $27 to $52. galatheatre.org.

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East of the River families know what it means to do a lot with a little. Between long commutes, caring for loved ones, and managing full households, there is often not enough time in the day to get dinner on the table. That is exactly why Feast & Fettle is expanding into the DC metro area this January.

This prepared meal service offers something rare: highquality, fully cooked meals made from scratch and delivered directly to your door. Starting January 3, families across DC including neighborhoods east of the river can enjoy fresh, ready-to-heat meals with no prep and no cleanup required.

Feast & Fettle meals are designed by a professional culinary team and made with fresh ingredients using traditional cooking methods. Each week, members choose their meals from a rotating menu of entrees and sides. Meals arrive chilled, packed with care, and ready when you are.

This service is not a subscription box or a takeout option. It is a thoughtful solution for real people who want to eat well but do not always have the time or energy to cook every night. It is for parents with young kids, elders who want easy meals without sacrificing taste, and busy professionals who want something better than another drive-thru dinner.

The team behind Feast & Fettle sees food as more than just fuel. It is part of what keeps a household moving forward.

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Even before the first delivery goes out in DC, the company has already been giving back. They provided meals to furloughed federal employees and supported families impacted by cuts to food assistance programs.

Their new facility in the area is creating jobs and allowing them to serve families with speed and care.

Feast & Fettle calls its customers members because this is not just about dinner. It is about building a weekly rhythm that supports your life. It is about removing stress, not adding to it. And it is about showing up in a way that feels dependable.

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WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

Trevor Noah at the Warner

South African stand-up comedian Trevor Noah is at the Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW, from Jan. 16 to 19, 8 p.m.

He was the host of the Emmy Award-winning “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central for seven years which broke free from the restraints of a 30-minute linear show, producing award-winning digital series, podcasts and more for its global audience. Trevor is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” and its young readers adaptation, released in 2019. Tickets start at $97. warnertheatredc.com/shows

Trevor Noah, 2024. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Web Summit Qatar via Sportsfile.

CUA Students Build “The Wave” at the National Building Museum

Architecture students from The Catholic University of America have built a massive floating spaceframe, “Lightness of Strength: The Wave,” in the Great Hall of the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, using sustainable materials and new technology developed in part by a student and professor at the University.

Suspended in the Great Hall, the 55-by-180-foot structure is made of recycled aluminum and demonstrates how advanced material logic and fabrication can shape the next generation of resilient architectural design. Its combination of lightness and strength offers a model for more sustainable, efficient and flexible spaceframe construction. The National Building Museum is open Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for youth and seniors; access to the Great Hall is free. “The Wave” is on view through Feb. 8, 2026. nbm.org.

“Chez Joey” at Arena

The year is 1940-something, and Chicago’s night scene is sizzling. Enter Joey Evans. A slick-talking, velvet-voiced songster with dreams bigger than the bandstand. But in a city where the right connections mean everything, he is caught between a bright-eyed chorus girl and a wealthy baroness who can bankroll his big break—for a price. Joey’s got a choice to make. This classic Rodgers and Hart score, including “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” “What Is a Man?,” and “I Could Write a Book,” now includes “This Can’t Be Love” and “The Lady Is a Tramp,” among others. The stakes are high, the music is hot, and the game of romance and ambition never sounded so good. Tickets start at $83. “Chez Joey” is at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, from Jan. 30 to March 15. arenastage.org.

The Eureka Moment: Unveiling Metaphors of Discovery at the National Academy of Sciences Through May 29, 2026, this exhibition at the National Academy of Sciences, 2101 Constitution Ave. NW, explores how metaphors—often seen as poetic or artistic— can also be powerful tools for discovery that help us see the familiar in unfamiliar ways and open doors to new ways of thinking. Minor White (1908-1976), a visionary photographer and educator, believed that creativity could transform even the most technical fields. In 1965, he founded the Creative Photography Laboratory at MIT, where he developed a curriculum that encouraged engineers to think imaginatively and explore the artistic dimensions of their work—extending the impact beyond the visual to encompass conceptual and creative realms. cpnas.org.

Mike and Doug Starn, Structure of Thought 15, 2001-2005, MIS and Lysonic inkjet prints on Thai mulberry, Gampi and tissue papers with wax, encaustic, and varnish, 30 x 40 inches.

Collection of the National Academy of Sciences.

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WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

“Both Sides Now” The Music and Lives of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen at Sixth and I

American Dream Experience at the Milken Center

The Milken Center, 1503 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, is a place built for anyone who’s ever wondered what it takes to make the most of their potential. At the American Dream Experience, you’ll explore interactive exhibits that connect big ideas to everyday life: education, health, entrepreneurship and financial empowerment. These are the tools that help you take ownership of your future. They’re unapologetically optimistic about what’s possible when you have access and opportunity. Come curious. Leave inspired. The Center is now operating on a seasonal schedule—Thursday to Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Admission is free. mcaad.org/visit.

“Stomp” at the National

“Stomp” is explosive, inventive, provocative, and witty—an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered armfuls of awards and rave reviews. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments—matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcap—to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, for four performances between Jan. 16 to 18. Tickets start at $63.

STOMP Created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas© Steve McNicholas.

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“Two singer-songwriters sit on the edge of a cliff…” With these words, we are drawn into the world of Both Sides Now, a theatrical concert that explores the music and lives of long-time friends and one-time lovers, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. Created by and starring Robbie Schaefer and Danielle Wertz, the cabaretstyle performance traverses decades alongside songs such as “A Case of You,” “Hallelujah,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Suzanne,” and many more. Both Sides Now is at once a piece of the 60s and 70s, and of right now—offering us a story about the messiness of being human, of lives persistently lived at the edge of growth, and of finding the courage to turn toward one another. Six and I, 600 I St. NW, on Saturday, Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.). Admission is $42.50. sixthandi.org.

NSO’s The Rite of Spring: Trifonov plays Brahms at the KC On Jan. 15, 7 p.m. and Jan. 16 and 17, 8 p.m., Gianandrea Noseda and NSO favorite Daniil Trifonov reunite. First, the virtuoso performs Brahms’ mighty First Piano Concerto, known for its brooding majesty and immense scale. Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring follows—a notorious masterwork that shocked audiences at its premiere and forever changed the course of music with its primal, untamed energy. Tickets start at $21. kennedy-center.org.

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Photo: Peggy Ryan

WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

The Reading Room Festival 2026 at the Folger “Octet” at Studio

Eight people meet in a church basement and lock their phones in a box. This a cappella chamber musical from Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812) follows an octet of people struggling with digital dependency, charting their compulsions using only the analog vibrancy of their own voices. Witty, dissonant, and lush by turns, Malloy’s score plumbs the darkest corners of the internet alongside these characters’ yearning for connection. Staged in the round in the Victor Shargai theatre, Octet asks how—in the face of the many ways to escape into our screens—we can choose to be present with each other. “Octet” is at Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW, from Jan. 13 to Feb. 22. Tickets start at $55. studiotheatre.org.

Niiasii

At the annual Folger Reading Room Festival, Jan. 22 to 25, theater artists, critics, and scholars re-envision the stories of Shakespeare and other early modern playwrights, with audience members invited into this creative community celebration. This year’s staged readings expand into more genres, including plays with music and theater for young audiences. The festival supports playwrights as they develop new work during a week-long process with creative teams, actors and musicians. The process culminates in staged readings for an audience, with panels and post-show discussions that deepen engagement and understanding of the work. All-Access Passes are available at $125. folger.edu.

Niiasii, Grlztoy and Mac N’ Toss at the Quarry House Tavern

Niiasii is an alternative pop artist pushing the boundaries between pop, R&B, and alternative sounds. Her music is fueled by true emotion, a mix of love, heartbreak, and the relentless pursuit of freedom. On stage, Niiasii is electric.

Turning vulnerability into energy, and every performance into a deep connection with the audience. With shows across the East Coast, she’s created her own lane for genre- bending music and unapologetic expression. Niiasii, Grlztoy and Mac N’ Toss are at the Quarry House Tavern, 8401 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD, on Saturday, Jan. 17, 9:30 p.m. $15, at door. quarryhousetavern.com.

Photos by Cameron Whitman, featuring Ariana Caldwell (left) and Mitchell Alexander (right).

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The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today at NPG

Fron Jan. 24 to Aug. 30, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and G streets NW, presents “The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today,” featuring portraits by more than 30 artists from the museum’s seventh triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. The juried selection draws from more than 3,300 entries, and includes artist contributions from 12 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Established in 2006, the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition invites artists (ages 18 and over) living and working in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa and the US Virgin Islands, to submit one portrait created in the past three years for consideration by a panel of experts. npg.si.edu.

“John Doe” at the Keegan

People-avoider Zia suffers from anth ropophobia, the fear of people. People-watch er Doe suffers from being dead. And natu rally, only Zia can see him. Brought together by chance, fate, or potentially ghostly revenge, the two set out on a journey to uncover Doe ’s forgotten life while Zia faces perhaps a fate worse than death… socializing. “John Doe” is a world premiere commissioned through Kee gan’s Boiler Room Series and brought to vibr ant (and haunted!) life from Jan. 31 to Feb. 22. Adult tickets are $55; $44 for seniors, stud ents and under 25. The Keegan Theater is at 1742 Church St. NW. keegantheatre.org.

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E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE J ANUARY 2026

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neighborhood news

Going Wild on the Anacostia River

Animal Life is Thriving in Communities East of DC

by Matthew McClure

M

y neighborhood in Ward 7 was built on the east bank of the Anacostia River.

This means that not only does it boast unfettered access to the 20-mile Anacostia River Trail, but residents here also have a front-row seat to the daily rituals of the birds, mammals, fish and amphibians that live in and around this vital and historic green corridor that bisects the eastern region of our city.

A Swallowtail Butterfly on Pickerelweed on Kingman Island. Photo: Ariel Trahan

Nature on Your Doorstep

In all seasons, the Anacostia River hums with life. Sightings of river otter, badger, fox, groundhogs, beavers, red shouldered hawk, black snakes, egrets and bald eagles are common from Anacostia and Oxon Run Park in the south to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and the Bladensburg Waterfront up north. The ubiquitous white-tailed deer are the mortal enemies of gardeners on Anacostia Ave. NE Deer at Kenilworth Park.

Photo: Ariel Trahan

while eastern box turtles dodge gatherings in River Terrace Park on their way to and from the riverbank.

Up until the early 20th century, most of the land here was still largely rural. A subsequent legacy of underinvestment east of the Anacostia River means that neighborhoods here are a nature-lover’s delight: Houses, retail outlets, factories and industry share city blocks with wetland, water, meadow, forest 12

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and marsh habitats, all home to animals that have learned to live alongside humans over the course of the city’s 235-year history. Anacostia Park is one of the largest public parks in DC. Marvin Gaye Park in Ward 7 stretches 1.6 miles along the Watts Branch – a tributary of the Anacostia River – making it DC’s longest municipal park. Fort Dupont, Fort Mahan and Fort Stanton are part of the Fort Circle Park system managed by National Capital Parks East (NACE), a division of the National Park Service. NACE also oversees Anacostia Park, River Terrace Park, Bladensburg Water-

front Park in Maryland, Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens and Shepherd Parkway below Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.

Heritage and Kingman Islands, adjacent to the now demolished RFK Stadium, are artificial island habitats where fish and freshwater mussels thrive.

A Legacy of Care

Dennis Chestnut knows the fauna that thrive in these urban ecological niches.

For the better part of 50 years, he’s been at the forefront of environmental protection, preservation and education efforts on the Anacostia River. At the age of 77 he’s viewed as a community elder, someone whose advice is frequently sought by any-

Dennis Chestnut

one wanting to do work in and around the river. Chestnut’s love for the animals of the Anacostia began when he would play with his schoolmates in the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. “We’d get in through the back way,” Chestnut recalls with a smile. “They had barbed wire and fences. We’d ice skate over there. We were doing things that were related to the river without the sophisticated stewardship that we have now. We spent our time outdoors.” Chestnut and his friends would fill up their 7th grade biology classroom terrariums at the then Carter G. Woodson Junior High School with creatures scooped out of the river. “As a kid I was involved in macro-invertebrate sampling and didn’t know it!” he laughs.

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neighborhood news

their habitat, so they’re moving into more densely populated suburban areas,” Harrington continues. “I’ve lived in Congress Heights for 16 years and I hadn’t seen a deer in my yard until this summer.”

Wards 7 and 8 are disproportionately affected by the destruction of arboreal habitats. There’s plenty of vacant land ripe for the picking by developers who opt to pay a fine to remove trees rather than preserve them.

Sometimes whole ecosystems are deAn American Beaver spotted by the Anacostia Watershed Society’s Critter stroyed virtually overnight. This, along Cam. Photo courtesy iNaturalist with the effects of climate change, means that the ecology of the AnacosThe former executive director of Groundwork Anacostia River watershed is constantly shifting, with newtia River DC, Chestnut’s home is within sight of Fort Mahly arrived animal species popping up in unexpected an Park. From his back porch, he keeps track of ospreys replaces. “Coyotes have been moving into DC recentturning to the river each spring to breed. He’s even spotted ly,” Harrington says. “They’ve been expanding their the elusive gray fox amongst the trees. The fox, like many range to include our area which they haven’t been animals and birds that live here, use the Anacostia River, its in for the last few hundred years.” offshoots and the patchwork of green spaces that connect them to move through this corner of the District, avoiding the dangers posed by human interactions.

Planning Ahead

Tipping the Scale

Keeping these highways clean and trash-free is a full-time job. Nathan Harrington is executive director of Ward 8 Woods Conservancy, a nonprofit working with residents in Ward 8 to pick up litter, clear trails and remove invasive plant species. He’s also a Ward 8 resident, so is uniquely familiar with the dangers posed to wild animals living east of the Anacostia River. “For most animals the presence of humans is bad news,” Harrington says. “Human-made environments present threats to them. The animals that become pests are the few that manage to survive and thrive in human environments.” Harrington explains that the number of White-tailed deer has recently surged. Their natural enemies – wolves, bobcats, mountain lions – aren’t around any longer to keep them in check. “We’re also destroying

An American Mink spotted by the Anacostia Watershed Society’s Critter Cam. Photo courtesy iNaturalist

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Jorge Bogantes Montero is restoration program Jorge Bogantes Montero manager for the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS), an organization that’s been at the forefront can be a hook for people. As soon as that bald eagle swoops of improvements to the health of the Anacostia Rivdown, everyone’s dialed in. There’s a spot where the Fort er for over 35 years. During the 16 years he’s spent with Dupont stream comes in and there was a family of foxes AWS, Montero’s had plenty of close encounters with critthere with babies. People loved it.” ters on and around the river. “We’ve seen mink on the What does the future hold for animals living east of Maryland side of Bladensburg. They’re terrestrial but also the Anacostia River? Last summer, the House of Reprevery comfortable in the water,” says Montero. AWS opersentatives voted to withhold $267 million of funds alloates a system of trail cameras installed along the upper Ancated for NPS staffing, a blow to an agency already sufferacostia River corridor. The motion-activated devices caping from insufficient staff to manage critical maintenance ture sightings of mink, river otters (an indicator of a healthy of the almost 6500 acres of DC parkland under their rewater system, confirms Montero, because otters can’t feed mit. Vacant land in Wards 6, 7 and 8 is being developed at in polluted water), fox, beaver and even the occasional dobreakneck speed and smaller, unprotected yet vital green mestic cat. Montero says there’s an urgent need to create arteries are being choked or eradicated completely, adding more floodplains and wetlands that can absorb the impact pressure to existing delicate ecologies. The outlook is unof climate-change related flooding while also providing certain but for now at least, residents living east of the Anvaluable habitats for animals, birds, fish and amphibians. acostia are still able to enjoy the daily rhythms of wild an“Tree planting and meadows are great, but how about imals on our doorsteps. we think bigger? Climate change is so politicized in this country, but we feel there’s a need for that.”

The Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) Get Involved plays a key role in building the type of habitats that MonHave you seen a red or gray fox or a coyote in the DMV? tero is calling for. The DOEE’s District of Columbia Report your sightings to The District Coyote Project.

Wildlife Action Plan is a comprehensive, 10-year stratwww.districtcoyotes.org. You can also work with Ward 8 egy to protect species of greatest conservation need, or Woods Conservancy during their volunteer day cleanups SGCNs. Programs like this are important because, as by keeping track of their calendar at www.ward8woods.

DOEE’s Ariel Trahan explains, the river’s mammals, fish org. DOEE and NPS are currently soliciting suggestions and birds are an important part of keeping DC’s resifor the Kingman Lake Restoration Project. They’ll be acdents interested and invested in the river and its associcepting ideas until January 23rd. To submit your ideas, go ated parks. “The Plan helps guide us as to where we do to www.nps.gov/nace u our restoration projects and preserve habitats. Wildlife

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neighborhood news

ANC 6/8F Report

Friends of Diamond Teague Park Planned

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

R

esident Somaya Lane, founder of educational nonprofit Systems Supports for Social Stability, said she is seeking to partner with the Capitol Riverfront BID on beautification of Diamond Teague Park and anticipates finalizing a contract with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to form a friends group called the Friends of Diamond Teague Park.

Lane remarked on an application that was submitted to the DC Historic Society asking they designate the Capitol Pump House (1520 First St. SE) as a historic building. She encouraged commissioners to write a letter in support the application for the hearing on that designation, anticipated sometime next year. Commissioners praised Lane’s work and encouraged her to keep them updated with documentation and dates.

MPD Shows Crime Down Year-to-Date

Chair Brian Strege read a public safety update from MPD Captain Adam Crist, who was absent due to a family commitment. Over the last 30 days, MPD reported two violent crimes in the ANC: an assault with a dangerous weapon involving gunfire inside an apartment building on the 600 block of L St. SE on Dec. 11, in which two adult suspects sustained nonlife-threatening gunshot wounds and were arrested that day; and a reported first-degree sex abuse case on the 1100 block of Second St. SE, in which the suspect is known to the victim.

For property crime in the same period, MPD reported five stolen autos, down significantly from 23 taken over the same period last year, three thefts from automobiles, compared to 19 last year and one burglary that MPD described as domestic-violence related with the victim refusing to cooperate with the investigation.

Crist’s year-end comparison showed overall crime is down 23% year-to-date compared with the

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same period in 2024. Commissioners emphasized the importance of acknowledging positive trends and urged residents to share concerns when problems arise—while also recognizing the work of MPD when crime declines. “If I heard the report correctly, it sounded like all crime is down in Navy Yard,” said Commissioner Nic Wilson. “I want to be as vocal about the job that our MPD and our crime fighters are doing when the crime is down as when crime is up.”

•

Thank You to Outgoing MPD Chief Pamela A. Smith

Vice Chair Markita Bryant acknowledged the retirement of MPD Chief Pamela A. Smith. Bryant described working closely with Smith after difficult incidents in the Navy Yard and said the Chief ’s efforts often went unseen.

Alluding to a recent federal report on MPD culture and crime statistics, Secretary Ed Daniels contrasted the data the ANC regularly receives from MPD with what he described as a lack of transparency from federal law enforcement during prior public safety operations despite requests made to the US Department of Justice. Chair Strege added appreciation for Smith’s responsiveness to ANC requests, citing the quick handling of an ANC request related to the emergency juvenile curfew law.

DDOT Letters: Childcare Drop-Off Zone, I Street Corridor Study, M Street Metrics

Commissioners voted anonymously to send letters to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT): • supporting a curbside signage change from Toddlers on the Hill (ToTH) Montessori School for their child care center at 929 Po-

•

tomac Ave. SE. The school is seeking “no parking” during drop-off and pick-up hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday on 10th St. SE between Potomac Ave. SE and M Street SE. The block is currently signed for two hour parking from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with no residential exception. requesting a DDOT corridor study of I Street SE, including the South Capitol Street intersection, citing concerns about speed, intersection design, incomplete crosswalk markings; limited pick-up/drop-off space that pushes delivery vehicles into bike lanes or the roadway and an unsafe crossing at South Capitol and I Street SE. Commissioners also discussed requesting a DDOT walkthrough and involving other agencies in enforcement and planning. requesting safety metrics tied to the 2024 DDOT M Street SE Safety Corridor project. Commissioners raised continuing concerns at South Capitol and M Street, including frequent crashes, pedestrian risks near Van Ness Elementary and nearby senior housing, as well as a need for clearer evaluation of Vision Zero outcomes.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6/8F held its final public business meeting of 2025 on Dec. 16. On the dais were Commissioners Nic Wilson (6/8F01), Vice Chair Markita Bryant (6/8F02), Chair Brian Strege (6/8F03), Secretary Edward Daniels (6/8F04) and Dan Reynolds (6/8F05).

The next business meeting of ANC 6/8F takes place over Zoom and in person at DDOT Headquarters (250 M St. SE) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.

That’s when the commission expects to set its full 2026 schedule. Get details on how to join and learn more about the commission at anc8f.org u

Representing the Capitol Hill/Hill East, Eastland Gardens, Kenilworth, Kingman Park, Mayfair, Parkside, River Terrace and Rosedale neighborhoods and the RFK Stadium Complex.

Join us for our Next Virtual Public Meeting Tuesday, January 13, 2026 - 7:00 pm

ANC 7D Report Changes to High School Graduation Requirements Proposed

W

by Sarah Payne

ard 7 State Board of Education (SBOE) representative Ebony Rose Thompson presented initial recommendations from the High School Graduation Task Force, outlining proposed changes aimed to improve postsecondary outcomes.

The task force, composed of residents, students, teachers and employers, is working to collaborate, review and amend these requirements for the benefit of all students. Among the proposals under consideration are the addition of a practical studies diploma for special education students, a capstone requirement and biliteracy and career and technical education (CTE) endorsements on diplomas. These additions, Thompson said, are crucial for preparing students for their next step after high school regardless of their choice to pursue additional education, military service or a career.

Thompson also hopes the task force will create clearer pathways for students to access trade and career education. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is hosting ongoing engagement sessions and collecting survey feedback from community members about the proposed changes. Visit osse.dc.gov to learn more.

A New Commissioner for 7D06

Rosedale resident and Commissioner-elect for 7D06 Dominic Pacheco attended the meeting and expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to serve on the commission. Following former Commissioner Marc Friend’s departure earlier this fall, Pacheco will take the seat as part of the DC Board of Elections (DCBOE) vacancy process.

A special election for the seat was scheduled for early December, but the other candidate withdrew.

“I’m really excited about this, because this is a really vibrant community who has a ton of history, a lot of community activists and leaders in the neighborhood,” Pacheco said. He highlighted public safety, trash and alleyway management and city-wide partnerships as top priorities.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Virtual Login: https://dc-gov.zoom.us/j/82241 895770?pwd=30xgxP1oqOWhDHUuXw1vbrC1 rYieSe.1 and enter password: anc7d

Our Commissioners are here to serve you!

COMMISSIONER Brian Alcorn, Chairperson Brett Astmann, Treasurer Dev Myers, Secretary Artilie Wright Katie Murphy Ebony Payne Ashley Schapitl Vacant SMD Vacant SMD

SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT

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7D08 – Capitol Hill 7D07 – Rosedale 7D10 – Hill East 7D03 – Parkside 7D04 – River Terace 7D05 – Kingman Park 7D09 – Hill East 7D02 – Mayfair 7D06 – Rosedale

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Commissioners Joshua Taborn (7D01, vice chair), Artilie Wright (7D03), Katie Murphy (7D04), Brian Alcorn (7D08, chair) and Ashley Schapitl (7D09) and Dev Myers (7D10, secretary) were in attendance at the Dec. 9th virtual Zoom meeting. Commissioners Ebony Payne (7D05) and Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer) were absent. Single Member Districts 7D02 and 7D06 remain vacant.

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ANC 7D will meet next on Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. You can learn more about the commission and register to attend at 7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1.

Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. ◆

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neighborhood news

Mental Health Drop-in Hours at Anacostia Library

If you are going through something, DC Public Library’s Mental Health Specialist Leta Davis is available to meet with you on Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Anacostia Library, 1800 Marion Barry Ave. SE. Leta is a licensed clinical social worker (LICSW) who provides a listening ear connects patrons with community resources, including long-term mental health care. What library patrons share with Leta is confidential. You don’t have to sign up; just drop in during office hours for a one-on-one session. All library patrons 18 and over are welcome. dclibrary.org/plan-visit/anacostia-library.

90’s Hip Hop/R&B Trivia Night at Benning Library

On Thursday, Jan. 22, 5 to 7 p.m, join Benning Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE, for 90’s Hip Hop/R&B Trivia. Call your crew and get ready to compete. dclibrary.org.

Imagine a World Without...

On Sunday, Feb. 1, all day, at Benning Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE, Black inventions make the world go round. Keep an eye out for labels around the library to show you what everyday items would not exist if not for the innovative genius of these African American inventors. dclibrary.org.

Winter Skate at the National Building Museum

Through Feb. 8, the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, invites visitors to enjoy a unique indoor skating experience in the Museum’s Great Hall. This season, visitors can enjoy skating throughout the week with early hours, daytime, and after-hours skate sessions, each offering a different way to experience the rink. Here’s the schedule: Toddler Time, Thursdays and Fridays, 11 to 11:45 a.m. (after Story time); Daytime Hours, Thursdays to Mondays, noon to 5 p.m.; After-Hours, Thursdays and Fridays, 6 to 8 p.m. Themed skate nights are: Jan. 8, 70s Hits; Jan. 9, Divas Night; Jan. 15, Motown Night; Jan. 16, K-Pop Night; Jan. 22, 90s Hip Hop and R&B; Jan. 23, Latin Hits; Jan. 29, 80s Hits; and Jan. 30, Go-Go. $20 for adults, $17, youth and seniors. nbm.org/skate-spectacular.

Cinema Saturday: Patrons’ Choice at Bellevue Library

On Saturdays through Jan. 31, 3 to 5:30 p.m., Bellevue Library, 115 Atlantic St. SW, starts out the New Year with movies you, the patrons, selected each Saturday. Week 1:

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

“Remember the Dream: A Day Honoring Dr. King” at NMAAHC

On Monday, Jan. 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy drop-in activities throughout the museum, including exploring the significance of HBCUs in NMAAHC’s new exhibition, At the Vanguard; visiting the Typewriter Poets to receive a personalized poem; participating in a service project and a presentation on floral art. Families can celebrate at Dr. King’s birthday party on the 4th Floor Overlook with creative crafts, balloon art, and a singalong to Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday.”

Plus, experience live musical performances by Rex Carnegie and the House Band in Heritage Hall at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., honoring Dr. King’s legacy through music.

Free tickets are available at nmaahc.si.edu.

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EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

Action, Week 2 Drama, Week 3: Comedy, Week 4: Documentary, Week 5: Horror. dclibrary.org.

“January Jazz Jam” at Union Station

Residents, commuters and visitors are invited to experience “January Jazz Jam”, a free live instrumental jazz concert series at Union Station. Throughout January, local musicians will perform every Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at The Stage, located in the Main Hall, transforming the evening commute into a vibrant and welcoming cultural experience. unionstationdc.com/events/ january-jazz-jam.

Air and Space Museums’ 2026 Summer Internship program

Each year, the National Air and Space Museum summer interns learn from knowledgeable mentors in a variety of disciplines across the museum field. Interns work with distinguished scholars, accomplished professionals, and iconic artifacts in an immersive experience as multifaceted as the Museum itself. The traditional summer internship period lasts for 10 weeks, from early-June through early-August. These full-time internships take place at one of their locations in the DC area and interns receive a stipend of $8,000.

Apply by January 31 to be considered for the 2026 Summer Internship Program. airandspace.si.edu.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Resourceininthe theDistrict.

District.

DCHFA,Your YourHomeownership Homeownership Resource DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust

homebuyer or a D.C. resident

, be purchasing a home in the DC Open Doors Doors DC Open District of Columbia.

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership DC Open Doors city.

This program offers competitive interest rates and in Open the city.

This offers lower mortgage insurance coststo on firstcompetitive trust DC Doors is program your key homeownership in the city.

This program interest rates and interest rates andoffers lowercompetitive mortgage insurance costs

homebuyer or a D.C. resident HPAP provides interest free lower mortgage insurance costs ondeferred first trustloans for down on first trust mortgages.You not required , be purchasingare a home in the District Columbia. homebuyer or a D.C.homebuyer resident to be of a first-time oraaco-administrator D.C. resident of serves as

, be purchasing home the DC for Department of Housing and in Community tothis qualify DCOD. You must,a however, be District of Columbia.

Development’s (DHCD) first-time home buyer purchasing a home in the District of Columbia. program.

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down

DC4ME serves as a co-administrator of HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down this DC Department Housing and Community DC4ME providesofmortgage assistance with Development’s (DHCD) first-time home buyer serves asassistance a co-administrator optional down payment to D.C. of program.

this DC Department of Housing and Community government employees.

DC4ME is offered to years or older who have fallen home behind on insurance Development’s (DHCD) first-time buyer and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. current full-time District government employees, program.

Qualified District homeowners can receive up to including employees of District government-

based instrumentalities, independent agencies,

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance D.C. Charter Schools, and organizations, and tax Public payments as a result of their reverse mortgage.

Qualified District homeowners can receive up to provided the applicant/borrower’s employer

DC4ME provides assistance with optional years olderthe who havemortgage fallen behind on insurance fallsor under oversight of the Council of the payment D.C. government anddown tax payments asassistance a result ofto their reverse mortgage.

District of Columbia. employees.

DC4ME is offered current Qualified District homeowners canto receive up full-time to District government employees, including employees DC4ME provides mortgage assistanceinstrumentalities, with optional of District government-based DC4ME VA Loan Product down payment assistance to D.C. government independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, employees.

DC4ME offered to current full-time The DC4ME VAisLoan Product is aapplicant/borrower's VA and organizations, provided the District government employees, including of employees employer falls under the oversight the DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional product offeredinstrumentalities, by the District ofCouncil of of mortgage District government-based down payment assistance to D.C. government the District of Columbia. independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, ColumbiaDC4ME HousingisFinance Agency employees. offered to current(DCHFA). full-time and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's District government employees, including employees In addition to thethe traditional benefits, like employer falls under oversight VA of the Council of ofno District government-based instrumentalities, the District of Columbia. down payment and no monthly mortgage independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, COVID-19 insurance, this product includes 3% assistance, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's DC MAP COVID-19 providesoffinancial assistance to employer falls under the oversight thetoward Council of funded by DCHFA, that can beof used those affected by the impacts the COVID-19 the District of Columbia.

COVID-19 eligible closing costs orborrowers prepaid items.

This a loan of pandemic.

Qualified can receive DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance to up to $5,000 per month to put toward mortgage makes the DC4ME VA Loan Product one of the those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19their for up to six months. pandemic.

Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of most affordable and accessible loan options for COVID-19 up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage qualified military-connected borrowers. for upMAP to sixCOVID-19 months. provides financial DC assistance to those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.

Homebuyers Info Sessions are Back at DCHFA Visit www.DCHFA.org Visit www.DCHFA.org howRegister to apply to at anybit.ly/dcopendoors of DCHFA’s homeownership programs. how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.

815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG

815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG Visit www.DCHFA.org

how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.

E AST OF THE R M AGAZINE J ANUARY 2026 19 815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 •IVER WWW.DCHFA.ORG

neighborhood news

Jazz Cats by Luther Wright, a mural from Southwest BID’s FY23 PABC project “Gallery of Southwest: Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future”

Notary Public Services Now Available at MLK Library

Notary services are now available at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. Services are free and available every second and third Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on a walk-in basis only. Firstcome, first-served. Notary services are offered in community room 202-K on the second floor, across from the Alma Thomas Teen Space. For a full list of what to bring and how to prepare, visit dclibrary.org/using-the-library/notary-public-commission-services. The DCPL notary public is prohibited from helping you to prepare, complete, or understand legal documents. Translators and ASL in-

Anacostia River Outdoor Volunteer Adventure Trail

Led by Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA), twelve local environmental organizations have come together to envision and build a vibrant, interconnected volunteer ecosystem in the Anacostia River area. To showcase the network of volunteer opportunities, FONA created the Anacostia River Outdoor Volunteer Adventure Trail Map, designed by local artist Maria Toro Quijano. FONA’s partner organizations host a wide variety of volunteer events, such as cleanups, water quality monitoring, and food distribution.

FONA has volunteer opportunities as well, including cultivating the Washington Youth Garden. fona.org.

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terpretation are available on request. notarypublicdcpl@dc.gov.

DC Arts & Culture Career Development Fair

“Calling all early career professionals, recent graduates, current college students, career changers, parents seeking opportunities for young adults, and high school students interested in arts-related internships.”

On Friday, Jan. 30, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., exFresh Paint: CAH Mural Program plore apprenticeships, fellowships, and inThe District of Columbia’s Commission of the Arts and Humanternships with leading arts organizaities Public Art Department is soliciting applications from expetions in the DMV. This event, at Arena rienced local mural artists for their new Fresh Paint: CAH Mural Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, is a chance Program to design and install large-scale exterior murals on the to connect with hiring industry profacade of selected buildings within the District of Columbia. Subfessionals and learn how to kick-start a mission deadline is Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Request application career in the arts. From noon to 1 p.m., at dcarts.dc.gov/public-art/fresh-paint-dc. Staff contact is Deirthere is a panel discussion on “Finddre Darden, deirdre.darden@dc.gov. ing Your Path in the Arts: From Early Opportunities to a Creative Career”.

Hiring organizations are: Americans for the Arts, Arena Stage, GALA Hispanic Theatre, Imagination Stage, InThe Pearl Escape Project ternational Arts and Artists, Keegan Theatre, Olney (Honoring Resistance, Pursuing Justice) Theatre Center, Smithsonian Center for Folklife On the night of April 15, 1848, 77 enslaved men, women, and Cultural Heritage, Theatre Washington, Wolf and children from across the District made their way to the Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Wool7th Street pier along DC’s Southwest waterfront. Silently, ly Mammoth Theatre Company, Shakespeare Thethey boarded the Pearl, and with the rising tide, the ship set atre, Arts Administrators of Color Network, Encore sail for freedom. The Pearl Escape Project remembers the Stage & Studio, Round House Theatre, Discovery 77 passengers and crew aboard the Pearl, celebrates their efTheater by Smithsonian Associates, and 1st Stage fort to flee slavery, and honors the spirit that impelled them Theater. Bring resume copies and business cards. to risk their lives for freedom. Inspired by those who resistFree admission. arenastage.org. ed enslavement and those who helped them, the Pearl Escape Project uses the power of history to promote freedom and the elimination of oppression in all forms. Join them Learn to Budget, Save and Plan in April as they march together from Westminster Church for the Future to the 7th Street Pier at The Wharf. Read more at pearlesThe DC Department of Insurance, Securities and capeproject.com.

Banking (DISB) is offeringf free, interactive programs designed to help residents reach their full financial potential. Bank on DC (bankondc.org) Holiday Greenery Curbside Collection provides economic mobility and wellness to indiHoliday trees and greenery will be collected curbside, from viduals throughout the District. The Financially Fit the front of residences that receive DPW sanitation collecDC platform (welcome.financiallyfitdc.com) offers tion services between Jan. 2 and Feb. 28. Items collected curated workshops that provide personalized finanwill be turned into compost and provided free to residents cial education, budgeting tools, and goal-setting rethroughout the year. After February 28, holiday trees and sources. Get student loan help at disb.dc.gov/stugreenery should be placed at the residents’ point of sanitadentloanhelp. The DC Opportunity Accounts tion collection and will be collected as trash. dpw.dc.gov.

Program (disb.dc.gov/page/dc-opportunity-accounts) is a matched savings program that helps qualified District residents save up to $7,500 for DC Hypothermia Alerts goals such as education, homeownership, or small Hypothermia alerts are activated when the National business development. For more information visWeather Service forecasted temperature, including wind it DISB.dc.gov or call 202-727-8000. chill, is or will be 32° F or below; or, when the temperature is forecasted to be 40° F or below, and the forecasted

From Page to Screen: Black History Month Film Series

Every Tuesday in February, join Benning Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE, from 3 to 5 p.m., for a screening that highlights important narratives of resilience, justice, and triumph. From literary adaptations to true stories, these films honor the voices and experiences that have shaped our understanding of Black history in America.

Here’s the schedule: Feb. 3, Nickel Boys; Feb. 10, If Beale Street Could Talk; Feb. 13, Just Mercy; Feb. 24, Green Book. Free popcorn and refreshments provided. All are welcome. dclibrary.org.

chance of precipitation is fifty percent or greater. Transportation to shelter is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you see someone outside in need of shelter or a welfare check, call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or dial 311. If there is an immediate risk to safety call 911. When calling, include the time, the address or location of the sighting, and a description of the person’s appearance. dhs.dc.gov/extremeweather.

Do you have a notice for the Bulletin Board?

The East of the River Bulletin Board includes event notices, volunteer opportunities and other community news. Send your notice to bulletinboard@hillrag.com. ◆

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE J ANUARY 2026

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east washington life

Theater Night

A Curated Review of Theater in the DMV

by Matthew McClure

P

lacemaking. It’s more than just a buzzword in the cacophony of the culture wars. There’s undeniable power in setting out to make a place that’s generative, where communities from every social, political and cultural background can share ideas, creativity and resources and where human connection can take place outside of social media algorithms, AI slop and reels of monetized content. This month’s column is all about placemaking and place makers.

In the Spotlight Washington Improv Theater’s New Home Opening Spring 2027

Last month, Washington Improv Theater (WIT) announced its plan to make a home in NoMa at 1222 3rd St NE. After 28 years

as a resident company at Studio Theatre, WIT’s plans to build out a 10,000 square foot performance, workshop and classroom space over two floors in a mixed use residential building just steps away from the NoMa Gallaudet Metro station, Union Station and Union Market.

Mark Chalfant, WIT’s artistic and executive director gave Hill Rag a special, guided tour of the new location last month. The company is entirely volunteer based and ensemble driven. They perform their signature brand of longform improv theater every weekend while also running workshops and classes that teach improv techniques to encourage creativity and connection. All these moving parts mean that Chalfant and his team have spent years wading through the logistics of renting space all over the city.

A permanent home base, explains Chalfant, frees up the resources and time to make bet-

An artist impression of Washington Improv Theater’s new frontage and marquee at 1222 3rd St NE. Image courtesy Washington Improv Theater.

Mark Chalfant standing in the bare space at 1222 3rd St NE that will soon house Washington Improv Theater’s new stage.

Photo: Matthew McClure.

ter work. “It introduces the ability to create a wide range of events that previously involved many different vendor relationships. It’s the stability of knowing these resources are ours first. We can really plan our schedule far in advance.”

Chalfant says that DMArchitects’ Matthew Alexander, a WIT alum, has been commissioned for the build-

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out. “Matt understands the experience that a performthis group singing about this tech addiction. It’s about all Upcoming Attraction er has from backstage, to onstage and after the show, of us. That fundamental addiction hasn’t changed since so he’s brought that wisdom to this.” Once complete, the play was written,” explains David Muse, Studio The“Octet”, Studio Theatre WIT’s new venue will boast a 110-seat theater at street atre’s artistic director and director for this staging of “OcShowing January 14 – February 22| level, a smaller configurable performance space on the tet”. “There’s something about our relationship with www.studiotheatre.org lower level, seven classrooms, a community connection technology that’s a little off and not healthy.”

Sometimes, the identifier of a community of seemingly space, a café and a green room. Chalfant wants everyone The crisis that “Octet” articulates through music is totally different people is the place they make for themin the neighborhood to know that they’ll be welcome. pressing. Polls from Gallup (2022) and Harmony Healthselves. That place can be virtual, like a chat space on“We made it clear that we’re trying to be of service to care IT (2023) both show more than half of US adults and line or physical, like a church basement, the kind of place this community. For 28 years, we’ve been using spaces Gen Z individuals feel hopelessly addicted to their cellthat AA or NA support groups usually congregate in. In that someone else was using and we’re ready to flip that phones. We’re increasingly choosing to make virtual spac“Octet”, the a cappella musical written and composed script now. We want to deploy this space as a resource es for ourselves in isolation from others and, in some casby Dave Malloy in 2019 and being staged this month by for this community.” es, it’s literally killing us.

Studio Theatre, you’ll be introduced to a group of colConstruction will start in March and wrap up in time As Muse starts to wrap up his 15-year tenure as Stuorful (and musical) characters that are tied to each other for a grand opening in January next year. Chalfant and dio Theatre’s artistic director, he’s also looking to make his team envision a creative campus where businesses can participate in the WIT@ work program led by Mark Windmueller in their newly built classrooms, where Windmueller uses improv theater to resolve conflict and promote productivity in and outside of the workplace. Chalfant also hopes to see creative partners and neighbors from NoMa’s larger community gather either in the upstairs café or community connection lounge to generate new work, connect and collaborate on fresh ideas.

NoMA BID’s CEO and president Maura Brophy says that attracting arts and culture to her district has been a central pillar of NoMa’s five year strategic plan, so welcoming WIT to the community made sense. “One of the goals of that plan was recruiting a performing arts venue. We laid the groundwork for that by developing a really strong arts identity in the form of public art, sculptures and murals. We’re very happy that WIT has seen the opportunity that NoMa presents and think that this is a good neighborhood for them to call home.”

NoMa doesn’t really have any formal community gathering spaces like libraries or event halls, so Brophy is anticipating that WIT’s venue will bring benefits not only through its cultural output but Artists from across the DMV painting as part of the annual “NoMa in Color” mural festival, now in its 10th year. Photo: Sam Kittner. also as a dynamic and welcoming space for neighbors to come together in fellowship. She says that the NoMA-Gallaudet U through both physical and virtual places. a new place for himself in DC’s creative ecosystem, while Metro Station (less than 600 feet from WIT’s new venJessica, Henry, Paula, Carly, Ed, Toby, Marvin and reflecting on his contributions to Studio Theatre. “It enue on 3rd St NE) is seeing a surge in ridership, bringing Velma all suffer from some form of internet addiction. The courages you to think about the space you’re in, and the new visitors and audiences from around the city and the church basement in which “Octet” is staged is a space of shape you want to leave it in when you step away.” Winner DMV to NoMa, and soon also to WIT. catharsis, where they’re forced to confront, through song, of the 2020 Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding EnsemIf you’d like to contribute to WIT’s fundraising camtheir individual “monsters”: Compulsive scrolling, trollble and Outstanding Music, “Octet” should be on your paign (they’re hoping to raise $4 million to fully realize ing, and the substitution of physical intimacy for the ercalendar this month if you’re looking for extra motivation their dream venue), go to www.witdc.org. satz universe of online entertainment apps. “People are in to stick to that new year’s “digital detox” resolution. u

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LOCAL NEWS IN YOUR INBOX eastoftheriverdcnews.com 24

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

by Philip Pannell

I

n the upcoming June 16th primary DC voters will encounter Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), a voting process that will dramatically change how they vote and how campaigns are conducted. RCV is a significant electoral reform that will give the voters the opportunity to rank up to five candidates in order of preference. Also, RCV will guarantee that the winning candidate must garner a simple majority of the votes; that is why RCV is also called Instant Runoff Voting. RCV will be used in all elections except those for political party positions.

It is important that DC’s political leaders and activists engaged in a intensive effort to educate the voters about RCV. It is not complicated and is easily explained but as with anything new, it is important to read the instructions. The DC Board of Elections website has an example of a RCV ballot at dcboe.org. Also, RCV is explained in a You Tube video at Ranked Choice Voting Explained in Less than One Minute #shorts.

All community activists and organizations that promote voter education should make a resolution to schedule presentations on RCV. Lisa D. T. Rice, the proposer of Initiative 83, which brought RCV to DC, is the Co-

Founder & CEO of the Grow Democracy DC (GDDC) Civic Education Fund.

It is a Ward 7-based 501(c)3 nonprofit that will host and attend events across all eight wards in 2026 and distribute RCV education materials at in-person events and online. Please reach out to her at info@growdemocracydc.org and 202-378-8184.

On Tuesday, January 27th, the Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) will host an RCV presentation at its monthly luncheon meeting at Martha’s Table, 2375 Elvans Road, SE. That meeting will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and can be viewed online at us02web.zoon.us I am thrilled that the voters will being using RCV in June.

Nearly five years ago I wrote an column advocating its adoption: Give us Ranked Choice Voting - East of the River. It was the political honor of my life when the organizers of Initiative 83 invited me to be the treasurer of the campaign, which I immediately accepted. DC voters passed Initiative 83 in November 2024 with 73% of the votes, winning overwhelmingly in every ward and every voting precinct.

DC’s road to RCV was rocky and treacherous. Its opponents engaged in a campaign of deliberate disinformation and stoked racial fears. Their crowning insult was that RCV would be too com-

plicated for Black voters to understand – particularly those east of the river. New York City has used RCV to elect its past two mayors, Eric Adams and Zohran Mamdani. The African American population of New York City is 2.2 million, which makes it the city with the largest Black population outside of Africa. What is in the Anacostia River water that makes its east-of-the-river Black population difficult to comprehend RCV? However, Initiative 83 proved to be a unifying force for certain political leaders. The right-wing Heritage Foundation, which brought us Project 2025, characterizes RCV as “Rigged Choice Voting, a chaotic, confusing, election reform pushed by the left.”

Most of the leaders of the DC Democratic Party also vigorously and passionately opposed RCV. Obviously political opposites can sometime attract and find common ground. Politics can make strange bedfellows.

Even after DC voters approved Initiative 83 by a landslide, there were still obstructionists on the DC Council who tried to block its implementation by asserting that more study was needed. RCV was invented in Europe in the 1850’s. For those councilmembers who need more study, I recommend that they visit an edifice that will quench their thirst for more edification. It is called a library.

I have made a political resolution for 2026 and that is not to support any candidate who opposed Initiative 83. Election reform matters to me and helps to define my political values and vision. If a candidate’s position on election reform does not align with mine, he or she will not get my vote.

Or rather will rank low on my ballot.

Please keep in mind that RCV is only one of the two reforms advanced

by Initiative 83. The other is semiopen primaries. More on that in a future column.

Contact long-time Ward 8 community activist Philip Pannell at philippannell@comcast.net. u

Changing Hands Changing Hands is a list of residential sales in Capitol Hill and contiguous neighborhoods from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, Associate Broker at Coldwell Banker Realty on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.

NEIGHBORHOOD

PRICE

BR

CONDO

FEE SIMPLE 845 19th St NE #UNIT 7

CARVER LANGSTON $332,000

1

ANACOSTIA FORT DUPONT PARK 2226 Chester St SE $235,000 3 512 Ridge Rd SE #305 $64,999

1

FORT LINCOLN 3418 Summit Ct NE #3418 $400,000

3

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5000 Call Pl SE #403 $80,000

1

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 3309 5th St SE $510,000 143 Upsal St SE $395,000 4647 6th St SE $355,000 139 Wilmington Pl SE $349,900 164 Elmira St SW $240,000

5 6 4 3 3

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1621 T St SE #2 $285,000 DEANWOOD 2321 Altamont Pl SE #102 $80,000 4912 Meade St NE $550,000 4 u 5036 Nash St NE $423,000 3 3934 Ames St NE 5410 Central Ave SE 76 54th St SE 4644 Hayes St NE

$355,000 $344,000 $275,000 $275,000

4 3 3 4

FORT DUPONT PARK 1821 41st Pl SE $550,000 4246 Southern Ave SE $450,000 613 Burns St SE $425,000 1169 46th Pl SE $405,000 4553 Alabama Ave SE $345,000

4 4 3 3 3

3 2

HILLCREST 3211 S St SE $729,000 4 1019 31st St SE $275,000 3 3821 W St SE #A $269,000 3 MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5346 Drake Pl SE $650,000 5225 Central Ave SE $270,000

4 3

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1509 Tanner St SE $250,000

3

RIVER TERRACE 3357 Clay Pl NE $330,000 2

E ast of the R iver M agazine J anuary 2026

25

www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

Loving Time

by Myles Mellor

Across:

1. Mary-Kate to Ashley 4. One of the Jacksons 10. Storage medium 15. Ens.’ subordinate 18. Places to overnight 19. Like some transfers 20. Bread units 21. Famous rescue vessel 22. Chocolates, for example 25. Org. in the “Snow Wolf” novel by Glenn Meade 26. Environmental watchdogs 27. Nest eggs, briefly 28. 6-pointers 29. Sailor’s shout 30. Capt.’s heading 31. Marks 32. Outback call 35. Enticing ads 38. Tabby talk 39. Nobles 40. Completely taken with 50. Sodium chloride 51. Grafton’s ‘-- for Lawless’ 52. Sign on for another tour 54. Beach problem 55. Posh British school 57. Student’s worry 60. Prefix with phobia 61. Italy’s ___ di Como 63. Starbucks orders 65. Show romantic feelings 69. Craftiest 73. Occupied 74. “Peaky Blinders” series character 78. Mauna Loa, e.g.

79. Cold-war adversary 81. Isolated appearance 84. Letters at Camp Lejeune 85. Not needing a prescription (abbr.)

86. Mournful 88. First part of a great song for Valentine’s Day

26

94. City near Florence 95. “Knock it off!”

96. Agrees to 99. Loud sucking noise 101. Pixel density 104. IV units 107. ‘’___ Well That Ends Well’’ 108. Daisy __ (Abner’s love) 109. Wind catcher 110. Fashionable 111. Make tracks 112. On Valentine’s Day, you might wear your ____ 119. Actress, Mendez 120. Nostalgic song 121. Blackmail material 122. Some 123. German “the” 124. Salt away 125. Fancy dress 126. What U can follow

Down:

1. Pics 2. Acquired relative 3. Compass point 4. Petrol unit 5. Met songs 6. Plenty 7. “The loneliest number” 8. Attention getters 9. Connective word 10. Glasgow’s river 11. Malamutes, e.g.

12. Indian megastar Aishwarya 13. Amiss 14. Colo. is on it 15. Hiding place 16. Monastic officer 17. Approves 18. “Concord Sonata” composer 23. Do away with 24. Picnicked 29. Classifies 32. Official doc.

E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 33. Expression of surprise 34. Have a tab 35. Mai ___ 36. Coastal flier 37. 100% 38. Actor Gibson 39. Hairpin curve 40. Rabbit’s cousin 41. Deep black 42. Alias 43. Opus __ 44. Spanish bear 45. Singer Morrison 46. “All over the world” singers, for short 47. Princess vessels 48. Flying bird formations 49. French money 50. Cowboy’s moniker

53. Afternoons and evenings, briefly 55. Kind of trip 56. Pyramids 57. Army cops 58. Vex 59. From, in France 61. Mormons, initially 62. Sagacious 64. Sauce with sushi 65. Reggae precursor 66. Employer identification number, briefly 67. Matrix main man 68. Cont. north of Africa 69. Law and Order ___ 70. Unduly curious 71. One of the Muppets 72. Finds fault with 74. Cornerstone abbr.

75. Leveling wedge 76. Relocate 77. Summer, in Cannes 80. UCLA or USC, e.g.

81. Clumsy person 82. Small criticism, slangily 83. Suffix with methyl 85. Eggs, biologically 86. Ker-plunk!

87. Insolence 89. Dispose of 90. “Inside Man” director Spike 91. Switch ups?

92. Sun Devils’ sch.

93. Bering, e.g., abbr.

96. Goes with oohed 97. “Gosford Park” actor Owen 98. Obvious 99. Appeases hunger 100. Baseball’s Durocher 101. Evil Knievel, for one 102. Downhill ski run 103. Chicago’s state 104. ___ salad 105. Cat-like mammal 106. Shoot 108. Dr.’s orders 109. Tom and Katie’s young’un 112. Gp. in charge of condominiums, perhaps 113. Tree 114. Palindromic female name 115. Government security agency, abbr.

116. Up to now 117. U.N. Day mo.

118. Musical gift

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